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I read more than 50 scientific studies about yoga. Here's what I learned. - Vox

Submitted by Superuser on Thu, 07/30/2015 - 1:58pm

The bottom line

What we know:

Yoga is probably just as good for your health as many other forms of exercise. But it seems particularly promising for improving lower back pain and — crucially — reducing inflammation in the body, which can actually help stave off disease. Yoga also seems to enhance "body awareness," or people's sense of what's going on inside themselves.

What we don't know:

Whether some forms of yoga are better than others, whether yoga should be prescribed to people for various health conditions, and how yoga compares with other forms of exercise for a good many specific health outcomes. There's also no good evidence behind many of the supposed health benefits of yoga, like flushing out toxins and stimulating digestion.

What this means for you:

If you like yoga, keep doing it. There's no evidence that it's particularly harmful, and it can lead to a range of heath benefits. Depending on your goal, it's important to find an appropriate style — from athletic ashtanga to gentle hatha. If you don't like yoga, no sweat: Just try another physical activity.